Monday, October 14, 2013

10 Things to be Thankful for This Canadian Thanksgiving Day

On this Canadian Thanksgiving day I thought I would share with you 10 things I'm thankful for. Things that are a bit unorthodox. Things that make the list for me each and every day. In no particular order. Perhaps my list will help you think more about what you have to be thankful for.

1. ALL the people in my life. That includes every single person. Hubby, friends, family. Even the people who drive me crazy. In fact, especially the ones who drive me crazy. Because it's those people who challenge me the most.

2. My teeth. They're perfectly suited to chewing all the raw and cooked foods I love to eat. And they look pretty good too.Especially when I smile.

3. My hearing. Allows me to hear everything I need to hear. And though my hearing is exceptional, I am also tremendously grateful for the ability to not hear what I really don't want to hear.

4. My eyes. Though I need glasses for reading and driving at night (also thankful for my glasses), my eyes are amazing. I'm filled with gratitude that they are engaging, warm, and they sparkle when I smile. Love them.

5. My physical abilities. Having spent almost 40 years staying fit in various ways, I'm eternally grateful that my body still allows me to do activities. Even though they aren't the same activities I used to be able to do. In fact, my physical abilities are outstanding given all the intense ways I misused my body in the past.

6. My skin. My largest organ, my skin, continues to impress me. It breathes. It stretches when necessary. Springs back when required, though not as much as it used to. What a marvel.

7. Vegan alternatives. Grateful that veganism has become so much more mainstream. Which means there are so many ways to feed hubby and me.

8. My non-skid yoga mat. Not only great for yoga, but also for foam rolling, short meditations and contemplations.

9. What I endured as a child. I was blessed with so many experiences. I've chosen to take all the pain I lived with and use it to help others. I wouldn't be as good as I am at it had it not been for the adversity I went through. My purpose is intricately tied into what I endured.

10. The pain in my knees and back. An odd thing to be thankful for, I'll admit. But had it not been for the pain in both these areas I would not have had to give up jogging and kickboxing for fitness. At least for now. And had I not had this pain, I wouldn't have looked for ways to be kinder to my body. I wouldn't have discovered yoga.

This is by no means an exhaustive list.

In short, I'm thankful for every single thing in my life. The big stuff. The little stuff. ALL the stuff. Including the stuff that isn't so great. Because it's in the not-so-great stuff, the darkness, the contrast, that I can appreciate the light even more.

I like this list but I don't get 9 and 10. I can see what you're saying but I'm not there. I don't think I'll ever be there. My body is full of pain because of the pain of growing up with abuse. I'm full of pain just thinking about it. I don't know how you can be thankful for all that pain. Sorry.

You have nothing to be sorry for, Anonymous. Each of us are following a different path. Each of us are at a different place in our lives. And each of us contribute in a different way. When we find purpose in what we've endured, it's amazing what can happen, both to ourselves and others. Try and find a way to bring purpose to your pain, by helping others who have endured something similar. There is great power in that. Thank you for sharing here, Anonymous. I send you love, light and healing energy.